Chapter 2 - Michael Planned to End Their Marriage
Emily stared at the glowing reservation confirmation while Christmas
music played softly from the living room.
Special celebration requested by Michael Carter.
Her cheek still burned where Margaret had slapped her, but suddenly that
pain felt distant.
“What are you celebrating tomorrow?”
Michael looked at his mother again.
Robert noticed.
“Answer your wife.”
Michael swallowed. “I was going to tell everyone we’re separating.”
Emily went completely still.
Lily clung tighter to her dress.
“You planned a separation dinner?”
“It wasn’t supposed to be called that.”
Robert’s expression hardened. “Then what was it supposed to be called?”
Michael reached for his phone, but Robert kept it.
The reservation notes included champagne, a private room, and a request
for a small cake with the words NEW BEGINNINGS written across the top.
Emily almost laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because the cruelty was so carefully organized.
“And Jennifer?”
Michael rubbed his forehead.
“Mom invited her.”
Margaret interrupted. “Because Jennifer understands this family.”
Emily looked at her.
“You hit me because you wanted me gone before tomorrow.”
“I hit you because you grabbed my wrist.”
“You slapped me before I touched you.”
Margaret’s mouth tightened.
Then Lily whispered, “Daddy said Mommy would leave after Christmas.”
Michael’s face changed.
Emily crouched beside her daughter.
“When did Daddy say that?”
Lily pointed toward the hallway.
“I heard him talking to Grandma by the tree.”
Michael stepped forward. “She heard part of a conversation.”
Robert blocked him.
“Then explain the whole conversation.”
Michael finally admitted that for months he had been considering
separation.
Margaret knew.
Jennifer knew something too.
But Michael insisted he had not invited Jennifer to restart their
relationship.
Emily did not believe him.
Then Robert scrolled farther through the reservation email.
There was an attachment.
A seating chart.
Jennifer was seated beside Michael.
Margaret was directly across from them.
Emily’s chair did not exist.
Neither did Lily’s.
But one other name appeared at the head of the table.
Thomas Carter.
Robert’s face drained of color.
Emily looked at him.
“Who is Thomas?”
Robert did not answer immediately.
Margaret did.
“No one.”
Robert slowly faced his wife.
“Don’t you dare.”
Michael looked confused.
“Dad?”
Robert placed the phone on the table.
“Thomas Carter is my older brother.”
Michael stared.
“You told me you didn’t have a brother.”
Robert’s eyes remained on Margaret.
“I told you he died.”
A terrible silence settled over the ruined Christmas table.
Then Robert added:
“He didn’t.”
May you like
And Margaret suddenly looked far more frightened by Thomas Carter’s name
than she had by Emily discovering the secret dinner.
